Unbelievably, 79% of IT decision-makers feel that the current energy crisis will negatively impact their net zero sustainability plans. The whole IT industry has been greatly impacted by the energy crisis, as rising expenses put the operations of practically every company therein in jeopardy.
However, a recent study from Telehouse indicates that this problem may also pose a serious threat to business sustainability strategies.
ESG contingency plans are being implemented by 86% of UK IT decision-makers. The research described how organizations’ long-term sustainability goals are being impacted by the present energy crisis.
While 86% of respondents are already putting backup plans in place to lessen the potential impact, 78% of respondents expressed concern about the ripple effect that energy costs will have on their ambitions for achieving net zero.
However, it’s interesting to note that the research also uncovered another unanticipated but equally troubling issue: the disparity in sustainability perception.
A gap in sustainability perceptions among tech companies
The report’s findings point to a perception gap that, in addition to the energy crisis, could have a negative influence on organizations’ sustainability initiatives.
More than one-third of the organizations that responded stated that they have not even identified or made any progress toward their sustainability goals.
The majority of companies (52%) do not use renewable energy sources and do not keep a close eye on their environmental impact. Perhaps most alarmingly, just 67% of respondents believe that their IT infrastructure will have trouble coping in the next five years, despite 87% being convinced that it is now equipped to handle climate change.
Additionally, more needs to be done to improve sustainability reporting, since just 20% of organizations now concentrate on Scope 3 emissions and 43% said that their reporting of the impact of their IT infrastructure on their sustainability plan needs to be improved or isn’t accurate enough.
As a result, there is a disconnect between the progress that organizations think they are making and where their sustainability standards are in reality.
It also shows a problem with prioritization since while organizations express concern for their sustainable future, many fail to take the necessary actions in the here and now. If this development is not realized, the energy crisis may significantly affect their sustainability goals.
While there haven’t been any concrete efforts taken to make this possible in reality, our most recent research shows that organizations have a perception gap that sustainability drives decision-making. Businesses will need to investigate the advantages of outsourcing services to prevent cost increases and take advantage of green initiatives, according to Mark Pestridge, Senior Customer Experience Director, at Telehouse. The energy crisis is expected to have a devastating impact on sustainability progress.
